{"id":122612,"date":"2026-08-17T23:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T23:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/122612\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T23:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T23:21:13","slug":"recap-kcon-la-2026-day-1-rookie-spirit-long-awaited-comebacks-with-nct-127-wanna-one-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/122612\/","title":{"rendered":"[RECAP] KCON LA 2026 DAY 1: Rookie Spirit & Long-Awaited Comebacks with NCT 127, Wanna One, and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

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KCON LA 2026 with Olive Young Festa officially kicked off its three-day celebration of Korean music, culture, and lifestyle on Friday, August 14. Thousands of fans from around the globe gathered during the day at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the FESTIVAL GROUNDS and rallied at night for the M COUNTDOWN STAGE at Crypto.com Arena. For its 14th year of connecting global audiences through Korean music, entertainment, food, beauty, and lifestyle, KCON returned with a \u201cK-SOUL CITY\u201d concept, transforming the city into a hub of discovery for KLOVERs eager to celebrate their shared passion for Korean culture. Day 1 especially set the tone for the exciting, jam-packed weekend ahead with a diverse main-stage lineup that showcased both rising artists and the long-awaited return of fan favorites to create a memorable opening chapter for KCON LA 2026.<\/p>\n

To help warm up the crowd, the pre-show featured a few special performances, including the Boston Conservatory Dance Team at Berklee dancing to a medley of popular K-Pop hits that had fans singing and cheering along. from20 and HELLO GLOOM followed with charismatic solo stages before combining forces for collaborative performances. The lucky winner of the Asiana Airlines round-trip ticket to Korea, raffled from the FESTIVAL GROUNDS, was also invited on stage to receive her prize.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As the arena shifted from the pre-show into the main event, KCON Ambassador and returning host Sung Hanbin from boy group ZEROBASEONE appeared among the crowd to greet fans and build anticipation for the night ahead. Hanbin led the audience in practicing the official \u201cKCON NOLJA!\u201d chant one final time, uniting thousands of fans before officially kicking off the first M COUNTDOWN concert of KCON LA 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The night\u2019s first performance immediately captured the spirit of KCON\u2018s \u201cK-SOUL CITY\u201d theme, blending tradition and modern creativity on one stage. Viral beatboxer WING, known globally for his ability to recreate complex electronic sounds using only his voice, opened the show alongside KAYPA<\/a>, an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting traditional Korean music and dance. The collaboration paired WING\u2019s innovative beatboxing with the sounds and visuals of traditional Korean musicians, creating a unique performance that honored Korea\u2019s cultural roots while showcasing its modern evolution.<\/p>\n

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Taking the crowd by surprise, TREASURE\u2018s official hip-hop unit HYUNHAYO, composed of Choi Hyun-suk, Yoshi, and Haruto, emerged from the crowd for a special unit performance. The trio immediately launched into \u201c\ucf8c\uc9c0\ub098 \uce6d\uce6d,\u201d their hip-hop reinterpretation of the track by the 1st-generation boy group 1TYM. The energy continued to build with \u201cNally-Na (\ub09c\ub9ac\ub098),\u201d recently released in June 2026, as the members commanded the arena with their signature YG hip-hop charm. The members ventured into the audience area and even climbed onto the barricades, turning the performance into an intimate party between artists and fans.<\/p>\n

Hanbin returned with special co-host Lee Daehwi from Wanna One, and the two reflected on the interesting parallels between the two of them. They were both born in 2001, rose to prominence through MNET survival programs, and served as centers for their respective signal songs. With all these things in common, they are actually the perfect pair to introduce the next performers with a similar origin story. Together, they welcomed fans to the global debut stage of KO1KEYZ, the 12-member Korean-Japanese boy group formed through PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI.<\/p>\n

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KO1KEYZ first showcased their impressive synchronization through their signal song \u201cShinsakai (\u65b0\u4e16\u754c)\u201d before debuting their youthful yet inspiring title track \u201cKO1KEYZ.\u201d Framed by a storybook-inspired concept, the performance symbolized the beginning of a new chapter for the group, with the members beaming throughout as they invited fans to join them on the first page of their journey.<\/p>\n

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Special guest Lee Jun-hyuk, best known for his role as Seo Dong-jae in Stranger, made an appearance to the delight of K-drama fans in attendance. Promoting his upcoming drama The Ordinary Jackpot, the actor invited fans to help \u201cscratch\u201d a giant lottery ticket on the large screens to help reveal the next performing act, H\/\/PE Princess.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The seven-member South Korean-Japanese girl group, formed through the survival program Unpretty Rapstar: Hip Pop Princess, took over the arena with their fierce stage presence and rap prowess. They treated KCONers to an early preview of their unreleased track \u201cAWA\u201d and then performed \u201cStolen\u201d from their debut mini album. The group then delighted the crowd with a cover of Block B\u2019s \u201cVery Good,\u201d showcasing powerful vocals and energetic choreography that highlighted their versatility as all-rounders.<\/p>\n

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Continuing the showcase of rising stars, SANTOS BRAVOS brought an energetic blend of Latin pop backed by K-Pop training to the KCON stage. They opened with the high-energy \u201cVELOCIDADE,\u201d from their debut EP Dual. The group managed by HYBE Latin America immediately won over the crowd with a synchronized performance and an explosive dance break. Performing at KCON LA held special significance for L.A. native Drew, who proudly acknowledged his hometown crowd as the group gave heartfelt shoutouts to the friends and family in attendance. The mood shifted with the groovier \u201cMHM,\u201d as they showed off their softer, more playful sides.<\/p>\n

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Special MCs So Jung-hwan (TREASURE), Park Gun-wook (ZEROBASEONE), and Kyehoon (KickFlip) took the stage as the trio known as \u201cOisobagi.\u201d They kicked things off with a comedic skit, pretending they had arrived by mistake and joking that it was not yet time for them to host. Instead, they surprised the audience with a special performance of Crush\u2018s \u201cRush Hour,\u201d showcasing their mischievous charisma and chemistry with each other for a collaboration stage that fans can only see at KCON.<\/p>\n

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&TEAM was then met with deafening screams as they stormed the stage to perform \u201cRush,\u201d with fans especially reacting to the group\u2019s synchronized, provocative dance moves during the chorus. A brief dance break further intensified the performance, drawing continuous cheers from the crowd. During their ment, the members shared that they had visited Los Angeles four years ago to watch a BTS concert, making the moment of now performing on a KCON stage themselves feel especially meaningful. They continued the momentum with \u201cDeer Hunter,\u201d a performance highlighted by interactive partner choreography between members that sent fans into a frenzy.<\/p>\n

After a brief silence, the audience erupted when Johnny from NCT 127 suddenly appeared among the crowd as a surprise MC. Introducing himself with his trademark humor, he joked, \u201cI go by the name of Johnny, and I come from a band called NCT 127,\u201d drawing laughter as the entire arena immediately recognized him. Johnny shared that two of his members, Taeyong and Jaehyun, had been waiting a long time for this moment, and there were actually other guests who had been eagerly waiting eight years to return to KCON LA. Fans immediately shouted for Wanna One to perform. For now, a teaser video that offered a glimpse of the group\u2019s thoughts about their global comeback and hinted at the upcoming songs prompted one of the loudest crowd reactions of the night. While it was not time for Wanna One and NCT 127 to take the stage yet, KCONers had plenty more great performances to enjoy in the meantime.<\/p>\n

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Feeding off of the hype that Johnny and Wanna One successfully drummed up, KICKFLIP brought a burst of youthful energy to the stage with their most recent title track \u201cEye-Poppin\u2019.\u201d The members noted that they had actually filmed the music video for the song in Los Angeles, making the performance especially meaningful. They followed with \u201cBackward,\u201d continuing to showcase their bright charisma as fans enthusiastically sang and danced along.<\/p>\n

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TREASURE kept the momentum soaring with \u201cIF I,\u201d turning the performance into a massive dance party as members encouraged fans to jump along. The group fed off the crowd\u2019s enthusiasm and joked, \u201cBased on L.A.\u2019s energy, we can go hard on this track,\u201d and launched into \u201cZOOM ZOOM.\u201d TREASURE asked everyone to stand up and swing their arms for the signature running choreography of \u201cRUN.\u201d Fans eagerly followed along, and the boys ventured into the crowd, ending with the members sprawled across the stage floor, exhausted but exhilarated after three high-energy songs.<\/p>\n

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One of the things that makes KCON so special is its ability to create once-in-a-lifetime collaborations that fans would not be able to see anywhere else. Under the theme \u201cTwo Worlds, Connected by K-Soul,\u201d &TEAM and SANTOS BRAVOS came together for a stage that embodied KCON\u2019s mission of connecting artists, genres, and fans from around the world through a shared love of music.<\/p>\n

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The collaboration paid tribute to BTS, who have helped spread K-Pop to a global audience and inspired countless artists across generations and regions. SANTOS BRAVOS first showcased \u201cHooligan,\u201d while &TEAM impressed with \u201c2.0.\u201d The stage culminated in a joint rendition of \u201cPermission to Dance,\u201d transforming the arena into a massive singalong as both groups encouraged fans to join in. With thousands of voices singing together and a shower of confetti cascading over the crowd, the finale perfectly captured the spirit of KCON to unite fans all over the world with the love for K-Culture.<\/p>\n

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Actor and singer Im Siwan made a memorable entrance as he was lifted from below the stage onto the main stage. He immediately won over the crowd with his playful charm, repeatedly asking his questions whenever he felt the audience\u2019s responses weren\u2019t enthusiastic enough. Siwan shared that despite being best known for his acting, he is still pursuing music, paying homage to his roots in K-pop as part of the boy group ZE:A. He also took time to ask the audience about their love for K-dramas and films before teasing his upcoming mystery-romance drama, Love in Disguise, scheduled to premiere in October 2026. Im Siwan introduced the next act as a group with a \u201clong history with KCON,\u201d and fans immediately erupted into cheers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The moment the opening notes of Wanna One\u2019s \u201cEnergetic\u201d began, fans loudly sang every word of the chorus as if the song was recently released instead of nine years ago. During introductions, each member received a heartfelt welcome, as cameras captured longtime WANNABLEs (their official fandom name) proudly waving banners they had held onto for nearly a decade. The group joked that the \u201chottest\u201d actor should introduce the next song. Sheepishly, Park Jihoon introduced the group\u2019s next song to be \u201cBOOMERANG\u201d<\/p>\n

The energy remained high with \u201cBOOMERANG\u201d as the team effortlessly executed the intense choreography. The mood then shifted when a touching video montage revisiting Wanna One\u2019s journey played on the big screen. The throwback featured clips from their survival show and debut era, the emotions surrounding their farewell concert, and the silly and cherished memories they made through their variety shows, prompting both smiles and tears from longtime fans. Wanna One rounded out their appearance with a beautiful performance of \u201cSpring Breeze, Again.\u201d The song serves as the 2026 reunion track, the official original soundtrack for the reality series WANNA ONE GO : Back to Base. The emotional ballad allowed the members\u2019 vocals to shine, creating one of the most heartfelt moments of the evening. As the final notes faded, the words \u201cOne to Be\u201d appeared on the screen, a powerful reminder that despite the years apart, the bond between Wanna One and WANNABLEs remains as strong as ever.<\/p>\n

Before the night\u2019s main event, the Oisobagi MCs returned to the stage to check in with fans, asking if everyone enjoyed their earlier skit and special performance. After basking in the crowd\u2019s enthusiastic response, they hyped up what was to come, promising a stage powerful enough to set the entire K-Soul City on fire.<\/p>\n

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Thousands of NCTzens waving their neon green light sticks erupted in cheers as NCT 127 opened with \u201cLemonade,\u201d and Jaehyun\u2019s iconic killing parts elicited screams each time he popped up on the big screen. Without missing a beat, they launched straight into \u201c2 Baddies,\u201d even adapting the lyrics for the occasion by saying, \u201cShow me L.A., what\u2019s your style?\u201d<\/p>\n

Afterward, the members took time to introduce themselves, with Johnny enthusiastically leading cheers for each member and welcoming Taeyong and Jaehyun back after their mandatory military service. The mood shifted into something more relaxed with \u201cSummer 127,\u201d as members interacted with fans throughout the venue and leaned into playful fan service. \u201cTOUCH\u201d followed, with Yuta encouraging the crowd to wave their hands to the beat. Looking across the arena, a sea of neon-green NCT lightsticks swayed in unison, creating one of the night\u2019s most visually striking moments.<\/p>\n

NCT 127 also teased their upcoming seventh album, which is releasing on August 24, by introducing a brand-new song and teaching fans a call-and-response chant. Whenever the members shouted, \u201cPut your confetti,\u201d the crowd was to fire back with, \u201cOne time, one time, one time!\u201d The boys performed the old-school hip-hop vibe \u201cPi\u00f1ata\u201d live for the very first time since its release. The excitement carried into \u201cFact Check,\u201d with immediate screams of recognition erupting the moment the song began and throughout the song at the explosive choreography and high notes.<\/p>\n

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One of KCON\u2019s most beloved traditions, DREAM STAGE, returned with talented fans joining NCT 127 for a performance of \u201cKick It.\u201d Earlier in the day, chosen fans selected through social media auditions were invited to audition in person at the FESTIVAL GROUNDS to be part of the stage. Dressed in matching yellow outfits reminiscent of Bruce Lee, the selected final participants nailed the concept and delivered an impressive performance that drew huge cheers from the audience. After the stage concluded, NCT 127 gathered for a commemorative group photo with the Dream Stage participants, shouting, \u201cKimchi!\u201d for the camera.<\/p>\n

As the show sadly neared its end, Johnny teased Taeyong\u2019s solo stage for the following day and playfully asked who would be returning tomorrow to see it. Thankfully, there was time for one more stage together. The group began from a huddle near the VIP barricades, with the members declaring, \u201cNCT 127 is back!\u201d before getting the entire crowd bopping and singing along to \u201cWalk.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The night finally drew to a close, and Sung Hanbin returned for the farewell ment, bringing all of the artists back on stage for KCON\u2019s traditional ending celebration. Surrounded by performers from across generations and countries, the arena united one final time in chants of \u201cKCON NOLJA!\u201d as artists waved goodbye and thanked fans for an unforgettable day of sharing their love for K-Culture. With unforgettable reunions, surprise collaborations, and electrifying performances from both rising rookies and established stars, Day 1 perfectly captured the spirit of KCON and set an incredibly high bar for the rest of the weekend.<\/p>\n

Tags:
\n&TEAM<\/a>, Concert Recap<\/a>, Event Recap<\/a>, Featured<\/a>, from20<\/a>, HELLO GLOOM<\/a>, Im Siwan<\/a>, KCON<\/a>, kcon la<\/a>, KCON LA 2026<\/a>, KickFlip<\/a>, KO1KEYZ<\/a>, Lee Jun-Hyuk<\/a>, SANTOS BRAVOS<\/a>, Treasure<\/a>, WING<\/a>\t<\/p>\n